Air Changan
Air Changan (simplified Chinese: 长安航空; traditional Chinese: 長安航空; pinyin: Cháng'ān Hángkōng) is a Chinese domestic airline. Its main operating base is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, serving several cities in Shaanxi Province. Initially an independent carrier, Air Changan merged with Hainan Airlines in 2000 and was later absorbed into that airline. Air Changan resumed service as an independent airline in May 2016, providing flights to four Chinese cities with three Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
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Founded | 11 April 1992 | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 5 January 1993 | ||||||
Operating bases | Xi'an Xianyang International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 11 | ||||||
Destinations | 33 | ||||||
Parent company | Hainan Airlines (59.43%) | ||||||
Headquarters | Xi'an, Shaanxi | ||||||
Website | www |
History
In order to develop the local economy and aviation industry, in September 1990, the Shaanxi provincial government and local aircraft manufacturers began planning for a local airline, to operate with three Xian Y-7 aircraft. On 2 March 1992, the provincial government named the airline as Air Changan. On 11 April 1992, Air Changan was formally founded, merging Dapeng Airlines in to the new entity. On 5 January 1993, the first flight of Air Changan operated, from Xi'an to Yulin. Then was transfer to be operated by the provincial government only, after the aircraft manufacturers left the venture due to new regulations coming into effect.
On 30 August 2000, Air Changan was purchased by Hainan Airlines (HNA) and renamed Chang An Airlines. On 1 July 2002, the first Boeing 737-400 was put into operation. In October 2002, Chang An Airlines, Xinhua Airlines and Shanxi Airlines were merged into Hainan Airlines.
In December 2015, HNA Group began talks with the Shaanxi provincial government regarding the restoration of Chang An Airlines as an independent carrier. The airline would return to its original focus of flights within and out of Shaanxi Province.[1] The airline rebranded as its original name and unveiled its own livery.[2] After receiving its air operator certificate in April 2016,[2] Air Changan resumed operations as an independent airline the following month on 9 May. The inaugural flight was from Xi'an to Zhuhai. During the customary water salute upon arrival in Zhuhai, the fire engines accidentally sprayed foam instead. As a result, the aircraft had to undergo a safety check, and the return flight was cancelled.[3]
Corporate affairs
Hainan Airlines holds an 83.3% stake in the airline, up 21.9% following a 1.01 billion yuan share purchase in September 2015.[4]
Destinations
People's Republic of China
Fleet
As of September 2019, Air Changan operates the following aircraft:[5][6]
Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing 737-800 | 11 | — | — | |
Boeing 737 MAX | — | 2 | tbd | — |
Total | 11 | 0 |
Previously operated
Air Changan previously operated the following aircraft:[7][8][9]
- Airbus A319
- Boeing 737-400
- Boeing 737-700
- Bombardier Dash 8 Q400
- Embraer 190
- Fairchild-Dornier 328-300
- Xian MA60
- Xian Y-7
References
- "HNA Group to Restore Chang An Air as Independent Carrier". China Aviation Daily. 27 December 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- Ge, Lena (19 April 2016). "Revived Air Changan Unveils Brand New Livery". China Aviation Daily. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "Video: Air ChangAn Inaugural Flight Grounded Due to Foam Canon Salute Instead of Water". China Aviation Daily. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "China's Air ChangAn Returns to Independent Operations". China Aviation Daily. 6 April 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 9.
- http://www.xmyzl.com/?mod=jidui_show&id=177&typeid=41
- Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
- :: 长安航空公司 ::. travel.news.cn. Archived from the original on 2016-08-07. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
- 新舟60介绍. CAAC. Retrieved 2016-07-11.